Lake Villa School Bus Team Honored By British Consul General

Warrenville, Ill - Giving back is something the team at Durham School Services in Lake Villa embraces wholeheartedly. Stephen Bridges, British Consul General in Chicago, recently visited the team to recognize them for being awarded Team of the Year by National Express Corporation (NEC), a leader in student transportation. Durham School Services is part of NEC, and the Lake Villa team is among NEC's 220 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

"As the British Government's representative in the Midwest, I'm delighted to acknowledge NEC's contribution to local communities, a commitment we share and which is clearly taken to heart by the Durham School Services team here in Chicagoland," said Bridges. "We are proud that National Express is a proud British company and thriving here in the US. The Lake Villa team's assistance with the Illinois Special Olympics is a brilliant example of how a thriving British-American business relationship supports prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic."

The team in Lake Villa has taken part in the Lake Bluff Polar Plunge for the last eight years, benefitting Illinois Special Olympics. Kim Frost, general manager, and her team volunteer by shuttling 'plungers' to and from the event.

"Every year we donate eight buses, fuel and drivers to shuttle plungers from the registration tent to the plunge site about 2 miles away," said Frost. The Lake Villa crew has also assembled its own team of plungers for the last four years.

Every year the Lake Villa team also organizes a volunteer event to help clean up and beautify school grounds at one of the District 41 schools for which they provide student transportation services.

"We spread mulch, plant shrubbery, pull weeds, whatever it takes. We happily provide the materials, tools and manpower. It's all part of giving back to the community that we too are a part of," said Frost.

NEC's parent company is National Express Group, a leading transport provider delivering services in the UK, North America, Germany, Spain and Morocco.